The Y NSW is celebrating the announcement that we will take on the management of four public swimming pools owned by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC).
PMHC Group Manager Community, Lucilla Marshall, said Y NSW was the ideal fit to take the management of Council's aquatic centres forward.
"Following a highly competitive tender process, Council is pleased to be able to welcome Y NSW on board as the new manager of our four aquatic centres at Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Laurieton and Kendall," Ms Marshall said.
"With a proven track record of managing aquatic and leisure centres on the Mid-North Coast, Y NSW will play an integral role in furthering the development of our community which is well regarded as having a strong leisure and aquatic-based lifestyle."
Ms Marshall said the Y was a trusted global organisation with strong local community values, which were important factors that influenced the decision to recruit them to Port Macquarie.
"Y NSW will formally commence operations on April 25, allowing us to work through a smooth transition plan that will see no material impact for existing BlueFit members and staff.
"We look forward to welcoming the Y team and say thank you to BlueFit for their two years of service to Council and the community," Ms Marshall said.
Port Macquarie Olympic Pool
Chief Executive Officer at the Y NSW, Susannah Le Bron, said the organisation was thrilled to have been selected as Port Macquarie-Hastings' new aquatic partner.
"The Y is an organisation with over 150 years of history in delivering integrated community wellbeing, health and aquatic programming across the state," Le Bron said.
The Y NSW is a leader in aquatics management and community recreation, with active partnerships in more than 10 Local Government Areas across New South Wales.
The Y will partner with Council to manage Port Macquarie Olympic Pool, Wauchope Memorial Olympic Pool, Kendall Community Pool and Laurieton Swimming Pool.
"We are overjoyed to be working with the Port Macquarie-Hastings community – not only is this an incredibly beautiful part of New South Wales, but we know how much fun and safety in the water matters to this region where time at the beach and in the pool is at the heart of life and leisure," Le Bron said.
The Y will begin serving the Port Macquarie-Hastings community on Anzac Day, 25 April 2022.
Members and visitors will be welcomed to the Y at Port Macquarie Olympic Pool and Wauchope Memorial Olympic Pool from 1pm to 5pm on the public holiday (in keeping with Anzac Day trading hours). Regular opening hours will apply for the rest of the year.
Visitors at Kendall Community Pool and Laurieton Swimming Pool will see the Y NSW in action a little later, with the pools to close for the winter season, from 24 April 2022.the Y looks forward to welcoming the community in the spring.
Working in collaboration with BlueFit, who have delivered services for the community for the past two years, the Y NSW will retain the familiar faces of the current team at each centre and hopes to retain existing teams across all services and programs from April 25.
"We are looking forward to delivering our signature high level of service to the Port Macquarie-Hastings community," said Brooke Atkins, Executive Leader at the Y NSW.
"We're really looking forward to bringing our Learn to Swim and recreational swimming programs to the region."
The Y NSW will work towards full hours and timetables for all classes and current fees and charges will also remain the same for the transition.
"We are here to deliver best in class aquatic services, but the important point of difference for the Y is that we live and work in accordance with our belief and we are committed to delivering a positive social impact in accordance with that belief."
"We believe in the power of inspired young people. So, when people come to a Y swimming pool for a dip, or take one of our classes, or buy something from one of our shops – anything above and beyond our cost to operate is reinvested in the continuous improvement of community facilities or contributes directly to life-changing youth programs like Uplift, Streetgym and Y Spaces," Ms Atkins said.
Wauchope Memorial Olympic Pool
The Y NSW will be introducing programs for people of all ages, people living with a disability, and for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
All centre staff hold a pool lifeguard licence, with at least two qualified team members on deck at all times.
The organisation also maintains the highest standards of Child Safeguarding – putting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people at the heart of everything the Y does.
The Y is a not-for-profit organisation and currently manages 27 recreation centres throughout NSW and the ACT, including facilities in the neighbouring local government regions of the MidCoast and Bellingen Shire.
"We're looking so forward to opening the doors to the community on Anzac Day and kicking off this exciting chapter for the Y in Port Macquarie," said Y Area Manager, Alisa Wells.
"We'll also be celebrating with the community with open days planned for National Families Week in May, so watch this space!"
